Gold-separator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1@ A.

(No Model.)

W. H. FULGHER & S. E. LATT GOLD SEPARATOR.

N0. 600,579. Patented Mar. 15,1898.

m: Nonnls PETERS co. PHoTaLmqo., wAsmnnYnN, n4 c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. FULCHER 8a S. E. LATTA.

(No Model.)

GOLD SEPARATOR.

Patented Mar. 15, 1898.

Nin STATES NPATENT rrrcn.

WILLIAM H. FULCIIER AND SAMUEL E. LATTA, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

GOLD-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,579, dated March 15, 189,8. Application filed May 24, 1897. Serial No. 687,928. (No model.)

' and SAMUEL E. LATTA, citizens of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold-Separators and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in gold-separators, and the novelty and many advantages will appear from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line y y on Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line am on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an end elevation with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the screen-box and its supporting-shaft. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of the riffle-cribs with parts broken away. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the shaft for imparting motion to the centrifugal pump for driving the pinion thereon, and Fig. 7 is adetail transverse section of the rffle-crib.

Referring by letters and iigures to said drawings, A indicates the framework for supporting the various parts of the apparatus and which may be substantially constructed of timbers or other suitable material, having a cross-bar a at each end for' the support of a central longitudinally-disposed rock-shaft b.

B indicates the rifIie-crib, which comprises an inner section c and an outer section d. These sections are of semicircular form in cross-section, or substantially so, and may be lined on their inner sides with sheet metal or other material. The sections may be secured together in any suitable manner, so as to be disposed at a distance with respect to each other and in a manner which will be presently described. In the illustration of our invention we have shown these sections as secured to cross-bars e and f, which are in turn secured to the rock-shaft b, as better shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The rock-shaft is disposed horizontally, while the inner section c of the riffie-crib, which `is necessarily of a less diameter than the outer section, is pitched or inclined from the receiving end of the apparatus toward the opposite end, as better shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and the outer section 0'. of said crib is pitched or inclined reversely thereto or in an opposite direction, both sections being connected and suspended from the rock-shaft so as to rock therewith.

C indicates the screen-box. This box is loosely suspended from the rock-shaft b, so that it may move independently of the rifflecrib, and is composed of a suitable frame g, the side walls h, and carries two screens of different mesh. The lower screen z', which is the finer, is suitably secured to the side walls or-other part of the frame, and the upper screen j, which is the coarser, is secured at a suitable interval from the lower frame, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Itis obvious that the manner of securing the screens might be changed, as well as the construction of the frame itself, according to the fancy of the mechanic, it being simply necessary to arrange the coarser screen above the iiner at a proper distance.

As a convenient means of securing the screen-box to the rock-shaft we would provide a staple Z to take over said shaft, and this screen-box should be so arranged that it will incline from the hopper or receiving end of the apparatus to the opposite end thereof, so as to give a pitched surface to the screens. Both sections of the riffle-crib are provided with rifle plates or ribs m, which are of a suitable height and are preferably rounded on their upper edges and disposed transversely of the semicircular sections. The rifIie-cribmay be covered by a semicircular hood n, and this hood may be suitably secured, it being preferable to hinge the same at one edge to the framework or upper edge of the inner section c, as shown at p, although other means might be employed for attaching the hood. Bya hinge-joint the hood may be conveniently raised, so as to afford ready access to the riffle for repairs or other purposes. It will be observed that the rifie plates or ribs, as better shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, do not extend throughout the entire width of the semicircular bodies, but are cut IOO off or stopped short at one end, as shown at q, so as to permit the metalliferous particles to be removed, when desired, by simply disconnecting the gearing,which will `be hereinafter set forth, and tilting the riffle-crib sufiiciently for such discharge. We would have it understood thatI we do not limit ourselves to using the wire in the screen-box, as sheet metal perforated to the neness desired may be used in lieu of wire.

The lower section d of the riiiie-crib is provided at its elevated end with a guard r, which is pitched or inclined, as shown, and so disposed that it will guard said lower section from the entrance of rocks, stones, or the like, casting them off as they are discharged from the screen-box. This guard will also serve effectively in guiding such material as has passed through the screen-box onto the inner section of the rife-crib and direct the same upon the lower section of the crib.

D indicates a drive-wheel, which is here shown as a sprocket, as a sprocket-chain is used; but it is obvious that a belt might be used for driving, in which case a suitable wheel would be employed in lieu 'of the sprocket. This drive-wheel D is mounted on a suitable shaft s, which is supported in the main frame at the top thereof, and to this shaft s is secured a toothed pinion t, which meshes with a gear-wheel u, secured on the shaft @,which is also supported on said frame and disposed parallel to the shaft s. E indicates a pinion or gear which is mounted on a frame F, rising from the main frame, and G indicates a pinion which is secured to the shaft s, so as to mesh with the pinion E and impart motion to the latter. The pinion E has an arm H secured to it, and to this arm is connected one end of a pitman I, which is in turn connected with the screen-box at w, so as to impart a rocking motion to said box. The gear u is also provided with a fixed arm J,which has connected to its outer end a pitman K, which is in turn connected with the outer end of an arm L,which is secured at its opposite end to the central shaft h of the apparatus. By this means it will be seen that when the machine is thrown into operation both the riffle-crib and the screen-box will be given a rocking motion, and the connections between the gear u and the pinion E are such that While the riffle-crib is moving in one direction the screen-box will be rocking in the opposite direction, so that the contents will be thoroughly agitated and the metalliferous end of the outer section of the riffle-crib and carry off such materials as have passed over both sections of said crib.

P indicates a spray-pipe, which is disposed longitudinally of the machine and above the screen-box. In operation this pipe isintended to be supplied continuously with water, so as to throw a continuous spray or shower upon the screen-box and the materials therein.

Q indicates a water-tank for supplying water to the spray-pipe P, which is connected thereto by a branch R, and is provided with a cock S for opening and closing the same. It is obvious that any suitable means might be employed for supplying the tank with water, and such means may be either a pump T or a centrifugal pump U. Vhen the centrifugal pump is used, which may be of the ordinary construction, we would provide the frame lat a 'suitable altitude with a horizontal shaft V, and secure to said shaft a sprocketgear W and a belt-wheel X. The sprocketgear can be conveniently used so as to take motion from the sprocket-chain Y, which drives the machine, and such motion can be imparted to a belt-wheel Z or the like by a belt or chain, as the case may be. In using the centrifugal pump suitable piping will of course be provided for the conducting of the water into the tank Q.

Vhen the pump T is used, a lever lis used, and is fulcrumed at a suitable point in its length upon a standard 2, which may rise from the tank, as shown, or other suitable part of the frame. This lever or beam, which is allowed to move freely on its fulcrum, is connectedat one end to the plunger-rod 3 of the pump, and its opposite end is connected by means of a rod 4 with the arm H, which is secured to the pinion E. By this means, when the pinion has been rotated as before described, motion will not only be communicated to the screen-box, but through the medium of the rod 4 of the beam l will be communicated to the plunger 3, so as to reciprocate the same and operate the pump. It is obvious, of course, that when the centrifugal pump is used the beam and its connectingrod will be dispensed with.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim isl. In a gold-separator, the combination of a rock-shaft, the rocking or oscillatory crib comprising an inner section of semicircular form in cross-section inclined in the direction of its length and having transverse ribs, a larger outer section of semicircular form in cross-section inclined in the opposite direction to the inner section and having transverse ribs on its inner side, and cross-bars fixed on the rock-shaft and connecting the longitudinal edges of the inner and outer sections, and a rocking or oscillatory screen-box loosely suspended from the rock-shaft, substantially as specified. l

2. A riffle-crib composed of the inner section inclined longitudinally from the receiv- IOO IIO

ing end ofthe apparatus, and having the riffle plates or ribs disposed transversely and cut off or stopped short at one end, at a distance from the side Wall of the section so as to form a passage-Way, the outer section having similar ribs or plates and inclined in an opposite direction, and the guard at the elevated end of the outer section, substantially as specified.

3. In a gold-separator, the combination with a longitudinal shaft; of an arm secured thereto, a rotatable Wheel carrying an arm, and a pitman connecting said arms so as to rock the shaft, a riffle-crib secured to said shaft, a screen-box loosely suspended from said shaft, a rod attached to the screen-box, and a gear for receiving and reciprocating said rod, whereby the riffie-crib Will be rocked by said shaft and the screen-box Will be rocked on the shaft by the rod and gear, substantially as specified.

4:. A gold-separator, comprising a suitable frame, a shaft disposed longitudinally therein, a riifle-crib secured to said shaft, a screenbox loosely suspended from the shaft above the riflle-crib, a spray-pipe arranged longitudinally'above the box, a puynp for supplying the pipe, suitable drive-gearing, an arm leading from one of the gear-Wheels of a series, an arm secured to the longitudinal shaft, and a pitman connecting said arm with the arm of said gear so as to rock the shaft, a rod. connecting the screen-box with another gear so that said box :may also be rocked, a feed-hopper at one end above the screen-box, a discharge-hopper at the same end below the rifle-crib, and a guard at the elevated end of said crib, all adapted to operate substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof We afi-lx our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM H. FULOHER. SAMUEL E. LATTA.

Witnesses:

EARLY WARE, J. C. STANNARD. 

